2011 lamborghini gallardo Model Overview

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Feast your eyes on easily one of the most striking and contemporary exotic sports cars on the market today, Lamborghini’s sizzling Gallardo. With a mid-mounted, twin-cam 5.2-liter V-10 making 552 horsepower and feeding a full-time all-wheel drive system, the Gallardo lays down a sensational combination of effortless speed and confidence-inspiring stability.

If you prefer a little more friskiness with your power delivery, the limited-edition Valentino Balboni edition (named in honor of Lambo’s legendary test driver) is rear-drive only — happy to kick-out its tail when commanded by your right foot.

While the look is pure Italian, in fact the Gallardo is a cultural hybrid — the result of VW’s ownership of both Lamborghini and Audi. Thus, under that origami skin the Gallardo shares its basic mechanicals with the Audi R8 (though that’s hardly a bad thing). You’ll notice some Audi-sourced bits and pieces in the cockpit, too. Which is to say, the Gallardo fuses Italian soul with German engineering. Sounds like a perfect sports-car recipe, no?

If you prefer your motoring alfresco style, you’ll definitely want to opt for the power-soft-top Spyder version, introduced in late 2009. For the 2011 model year, Lambo is also unveiling a special, limited Superleggera (“super-light”) edition –which drops 154 pounds off the standard Gallardo while also bumping output to 562 horsepower (other performance-enhancing goodies are added, too).

Pure sex. For a design that’s approaching a decade in production, the Gallardo still looks fresh and modern — aided in part by the wild palette of available color options. Giallo Halys yellow, anyone?

Yes, you’ll recognize some Audi parts inside, but you’ll ride too well to mind. Included are dual-zone auto climate control, a leather and aluminum steering wheel, and available navigation and rear parking camera.

In “base” LP 560-4 form the Gallardo screams, reaching 60 mph in less than four seconds and gunning to a top end right around 200 mph. And, of course, the lighter, more potent Superleggera edition is quicker still. Also on tap are an adaptive, mega-grip suspension, monster Brembo brakes, and an available E-Gear paddle-shift auto-clutch six-speed. This one’s as fast as it looks.

Each occupant is protected by three airbags (front, side, and head), plus the doors are augmented with side-impact bars and the seatbelts feature pre-tensioners. Naturally, anti-lock brakes and stability-control are also standard.

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo News and Reviews

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